The Greenville Comets basketball team will play in the Sectional Championship Friday night at 7:00 p.m. against the T-Town Wooden Shoes. The Comets trailed most of the game and found themselves down by three with time running out in the fourth quarter, but a last-minute comeback brought the Comets a 45-41 win over Carlinville in the first round Sectional game.

Teutopolis is a state ranked team that beat Breese Central to earn their spot in the Sectional Championship. The Comets/T-Town game will be Friday night at 7:00 p.m. and you can hear it live on WGEL 101.7 FM and streaming at www.wgel.com.

MULBERRY GROVE VILLAGE BOARD CONSIDERING VIDEO GAMING ORDINANCE

At the Mulberry Grove Village Board meeting Monday, Illinois Gaming Special Agent Walker addressed questions concerning video gaming in the village. Walker explained the process of getting an ordinance approved to allow video gaming and said it would probably take about six months from the start of the process until machines could be in establishments. The board is viewing ordinances from others towns to use as guides for the application.

The board is considering the purchase of a metal locator to assist in finding water lines. Village employees are checking two types of locators and the board will consider the matter at the April meeting.

Mulberry Grove High School Freshman class sponsor Caleb Thompson addressed the board concerning a proposed spring clean-up project. He said students would remove junk and debris and asked the board to pay for a large dumpster placed at the school. The board agreed to pay the $300.00 rent for the dumpster and thanked Thompson and the students for their civic pride in planning the clean-up project. In conjunction with the village cleaning project, an electronic equipment recycling day is scheduled for Sunday, April 13, at the school.

COUNTY BOARD MEETS BRIEFLY

The Bond County Board met in regular session Tuesday morning. In a brief meeting, the only action taken was the appointment of Roger Flint, of Keyesport, to the Bond County Housing Authority Board as resident representative.

The board also announced a vacancy on the Robinson Cemetery Board. A recommendation to fill the position has been submitted by that board and an appointment will be made in the county board’s next meeting.

Due to their next meeting date falling on the date of the primary election, Tuesday, March 18, the board has rescheduled that meeting for the following day, Wednesday the 19th.

NEW MIDWEST TRACTOR SALES FACILITY IN BREESE

Midwest Tractor Sales is in the process of constructing a new facility in Breese

Justin Detmer at MTS told WGEL they were able to acquire land on Jamestown Road and New Route 50 near Breese.
Detmer said growing pains necessitated the new facility.

“We are out of room to display new and used equipment," Detmer told WGEL. "Parking has been kind of an issue here and we’re hoping to remedy that.”

The new Midwest Tractor Sales facility is situated on 8 acres. Detmer says Mother Nature has provided “a handful of trials and tribulations” during the construction process, but they hope to open in time for planting season or shortly after.

NWS METEOROLOGIST OFFERS TIPS FOR SEVERE WEATHER

It’s Illinois Severe Weather Awareness Week, and meteorologist Jim Kramper with the National Weather Service offers this tip on preparing for tornado season.

“Wherever you’re at, try to think ‘what do I need to do?’ For example, at home you need to know ‘where do I need to go?’” Kramper told WGEL. “If you have a basement, by far, that’s the best location. Homes that don’t have a basement, well, they have to find some type of small interior room that may offer some protection.

“People at work, they need to where is the safest place to go if I’m threatened at work. What’s the facility like? They need to know where to go and what they need to do. If you have to think about this when you’re threatened, that’s probably too late. So this is the time to think about this stuff so you can be ready if it happens.”

Kramper says you should always keep a reliable weather information source on hand and watch for warnings and watches issued by the National Weather Service.

HPD CREDITS SOCIAL MEDIA IN SOLVING ATM ROBBERY CASE

When news broke last month that the Bradford National Bank ATM in Highland had been robbed, WGEL shared the information both on the radio and on our Facebook page. The photo of the robbery suspect was shared 38 times from our page and as the picture and information made the rounds on social media, Highland Police Chief Terry Bell says tips started coming in within the hour.

“It appeared to be that someone recognized one of the persons, notified the girlfriend of one of those suspects, and it just happened that quick,” Bell told WGEL. “It’s a real enhancement for us to be able to put information out that gets spread so quickly. It’s almost like being able to take the pictures door to door and talking to everyone in town.”

Bell said watching this case develop through social media prompted the Highland Police Department to start a Facebook page of their own where they can share timely information.

COMMITTEE PASSES BILL AFTER CUPCAKE TESTIMONY

A bill exempting churches and others from health regulation for home-baked goods is headed to the house. Chloe Stirling of Troy testified before a committee in the Illinois State House Wednesday morning. The eleven-year-old's home cupcake business was shut down by county health inspectors in January because her family's kitchen didn't meet industrial standards. The committee approved the bill unanimously.

The Greenville Public Library Trustees are scheduled to hold a special meeting today at 4:15 p.m. to discuss the library roof project. Items on the agenda include roofing system options, the project start date and cost projections.

The Greenville City Council will hold a special meeting tonight at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. Items on the agenda include a leaf burning discussion that will be open to public comment and an executive session.

OBITUARIES

James R. Guetersloh

James R. Guetersloh, age 69 of Hoffman, passed away Tuesday, March 4 at his residence. Funeral service will be Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hoffman. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 until service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church. The Zieren Day Funeral Home in Carlyle is in charge of the arrangements.

He was born on November 10, 1944, in Murphysboro, Illinois, a son of Rudolph and Mildred Guetersloh. He married Carole Bowen on October 22, 1966, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Centralia, Illinois and she survives in Hoffman.

He was blessed with 3 children – Glenda Anderson and husband Greg of Waxahachie, Texas, Kenneth Guetersloh and wife Jill of Edwardsville, Illinois and Kevin Guetersloh and wife Margo of Carlyle; 6 grandchildren – Gavin Unverfehrt, Kyle Unverfehrt and wife StayCee, Meghan Guetersloh, Jennifer Guetersloh, Kayla Guetersloh and Kara Guetersloh; 2 step-grandchildren – Jordan Anderson and Lindsey Gomez and 2 step great grandchildren, who will dearly miss their grandfather. He is also survived by a sister – Margaret Arning and husband Norman of Hoyleton, Illinois; a brother – Vernon Guetersloh and wife Ruth of Chillicothe; a sister-in-law – Minnette Guetersloh, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother – Elroy Guetersloh.

Mr. Guetersloh was a life-long member of the Lutheran Church and served in many capacities at the church. He served in the National Guard for 7 years and worked for 27 years at Rakers Elevator and later at Carlyle Healthcare Center.

Florine Kersey Dawdy

Florine Kersey Dawdy, age 99 of Greenville, passed away Tuesday, March 4 at Greenville Regional Hospital. Funeral services will be Friday at at 11:00 a.m. at the Greenville First United Methodist Church. Friends may call Thursday from 4:00- 7:00 p.m. at the Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home in Greenville. Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church or the Simple Room.

Florine, the daughter of Milton and Orah (Hilliard) Kersey, was born October 5, 1914 in Greenville. She attended the local schools and graduated from Greenville High School with the class of 1932. Florine continued her education at Greenville College, graduating in 1936. She first taught in a one room school in Dudleyville, Illinois and then Central School in Greenville.

Florine and William D. Dawdy were united in marriage on April 9, 1939 in the Greenville First United Methodist Church. They enjoyed 61 years of marriage before his passing on September 23, 2000.

Mrs. Dawdy resumed her teaching career in 1952. She taught kindergarten in Greenville for 28 years, retiring in 1980. Florine taught Sunday School and was a long time member of the Greenville First United Methodist Church. She also was a member of Retired Teachers, Utlaut Hospital Auxiliary and Salvation Army.

Florine was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Dorothy Scandrett, and a grandchild Amy Elizabeth Dawdy.

Thomas Edward Castile

Thomas Edward Castile, age 64 of Sorento, passed away Monday, February 24 at his residence. A memorial service will be held Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at the Sorento Municipal Building. The Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home in Greenville is in charge of the arrangements.

Gladys L. Grotefendt

Gladys L. Grotefendt, age 90, of Highland, passed away Wednesday, March 5, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland.

Lorna V. Reinacher

Lorna V. Reinacher, age 84 of Highland, passed away Thursday, March 6 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland. Funeral arrangements are pending at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland.

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